Guitar shaped video game controller

ABSTRACT

A guitar-shaped video game controller includes a body having a shape that resembles a guitar body, and a neck that is pivotally coupled to the guitar body via a hinge so that the neck can pivot between an extended position and a folded position relative to the guitar body. A latch assembly is actuatable to selectively lock the neck in the extended position to the body. A cable extends between and electrically connects the neck and the body to maintain an electrical connection between the neck and the body when the neck is in the extended and the folded positions.

BACKGROUND Field

The present invention is directed to a video game controller, and moreparticularly to a guitar-shaped video game controller.

Description of the Related Art

Video games allow users to provide inputs through a controller to playthe game. Such video games include music video games that allow users tosimulate the performance of a song by playing the game with controllersthat resemble musical instruments, such as guitars.

SUMMARY

There is a need for an improved guitar shaped video game controller.

In accordance with one aspect, a guitar-shaped video game controller isprovided. The controller comprises a body having a shape that resemblesa guitar body, and a neck that is pivotally coupled to the guitar bodyvia a hinge so that the neck can pivot between an extended position anda folded position relative to the guitar body.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged tofurther include a latch mechanism comprising a latch connectorconfigured to slide between a retracted position that allows the neck topivot relative to the body, and a deployed position that locks the neckin an extended position to the body.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged tofurther include a cable that extends between the neck and the body andthat electrically connects the neck to the body irrespective of whetherthe neck is in the folded position or the extended position relative tothe body. Optionally, the cable is a ribbon cable.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the cable extends between the neck and the body through the hinge.

In accordance with another aspect, a guitar-shaped video game controlleris provided. The controller comprises a body having a shape thatresembles a guitar body and one or more control inputs on a frontsurface of the body and a neck pivotally attached to the body via ahinge, the neck configured to pivot between an extended position and afolded position relative to the body. A latch assembly is actuatable bya user to lock the neck in the extended position to the body, the latchassembly comprising a latch connector configured to slide between afirst position that allows the neck to pivot relative to the body and asecond position in which the neck is locked in the extended position tothe body.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the latch connector is disposed in a proximal portion of the neck.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat in the first position the latch connector is retracted and in thesecond position the latch connector extends past a proximal end of theneck.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the proximal portion of the neck includes an opening through whichat least a portion of the latch connector is accessible, the latchconnector being actuatable by the user through the opening to slide thelatch connector between the first and second positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the latch connector is a male connector that engages a femaleconnector in the body. Optionally, the female connector is a slot in thebody.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged tofurther comprise a headstock detachable from a distal end of the neck.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the hinge comprises a yoke with a pair of arms and a knuckle thatextends between the arms of the yoke, the knuckle configured to rotaterelative to the arms when the neck is pivoted between the extended andthe folded positions. Optionally, the knuckle is defined by the neck andthe yoke is defined by the body.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat in the extended position a proximal portion of the neck is at leastpartially disposed in a recess in the body.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat in the folded position at least a portion of the neck is disposedadjacent a rear surface of the body.

In accordance with another aspect, a guitar-shaped video game controlleris provided. The controller comprises a body having a shape thatresembles a guitar body and one or more control inputs and a neckpivotally attached to the body via a hinge, the neck configured to pivotbetween an extended position and a folded position relative to the body.A latch assembly is actuatable by a user to lock the neck in theextended position to the body, the latch assembly comprising a latchconnector in the neck that is configured to slide between a retractedposition that allows the neck to pivot relative to the body and adeployed position in which the latch connector extends past a proximalend of the neck to lock the neck to the body.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the proximal portion of the neck includes an opening through whichat least a portion of the latch connector is accessible, the latchconnector being actuatable by the user through the opening to slide thelatch connector between the retracted and deployed positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the latch connector is a male connector that engages a femaleconnector in the body. Optionally, the female connector is a slot in thebody.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat it further comprises a headstock detachable from a distal end ofthe neck.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the hinge comprises a yoke with a pair of arms and a knuckle thatextends between the arms of the yoke, the knuckle configured to rotaterelative to the arms when the neck is pivoted between the extended andthe folded positions. Optionally, the knuckle is defined by the neck andthe yoke is defined by the body.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat in the extended position a proximal portion of the neck is at leastpartially disposed in a recess in the body.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat in the folded position at least a portion of the neck is disposedadjacent a rear surface of the body.

In accordance with another aspect, a guitar-shaped video game controlleris provided. The controller comprises a body having a shape thatresembles a guitar body and one or more control inputs and a neckpivotally attached to the body via a hinge, the neck configured to pivotbetween an extended position and a folded position relative to the body.The controller also comprises a latch assembly actuatable by a user tolock the neck in the extended position to the body, the latch assemblycomprising a latch connector configured to slide between a firstposition that allows the neck to pivot relative to the body and a secondposition in which the neck is locked in the extended position to thebody. The controller also comprises a ribbon cable that extends betweenand electrically connects the neck and the body, the ribbon cableconfigured to maintain an electrical connection between the neck and thebody when the neck is in the extended and the folded positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat it further comprises a spring configured to apply a tension forceon the ribbon cable to inhibit slack in the ribbon cable while the neckpivots between the extended and folded positions. Optionally, the springis disposed in the body.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the latch connector is disposed in a proximal portion of the neck.Optionally, in the first position the latch connector is retracted andin the second position the latch connector extends past a proximal endof the neck.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the proximal portion of the neck includes an opening through whichat least a portion of the latch connector is accessible, the latchconnector being actuatable by the user through the opening to slide thelatch connector between the first and second positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the latch connector is a male connector that engages a femaleconnector in the body. Optionally, the female connector is a slot in thebody.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat it further comprises a headstock detachable from a distal end ofthe neck.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the hinge comprises a yoke with a pair of arms and a knuckle thatextends between the arms of the yoke, the knuckle configured to rotaterelative to the arms when the neck is pivoted between the extended andthe folded positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat at least a portion of the ribbon cable passes through a slot in theknuckle.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the ribbon cable is at least partially disposed about the knuckle.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat in the folded position at least a portion of the neck is disposedadjacent a rear surface of the body.

In accordance with another aspect, a guitar-shaped video game controlleris provided. The controller comprises a body having a shape thatresembles a guitar body and one or more control inputs and a neckpivotally attached to the body via a hinge, the neck configured to pivotbetween an extended position and a folded position relative to the body.The controller also comprises a latch assembly actuatable by a user tolock the neck in the extended position to the body, the latch assemblycomprising a latch connector in the neck that is configured to slidebetween a retracted position that allows the neck to pivot relative tothe body and a deployed position in which the latch connector extendspast a proximal end of the neck and engages a slot in the body tothereby lock the neck to the body. The controller also comprises aribbon cable that extends between and electrically connects the neck andthe body, at least a portion of the ribbon cable extending at leastpartially about the hinge, the ribbon cable configured to maintain anelectrical connection between the neck and the body when the neck is inthe extended and the folded positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat it further comprises a spring configured to apply a tension forceon the ribbon cable to inhibit slack in the ribbon cable while the neckpivots between the extended and folded positions. Optionally, the springis disposed in the body.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the proximal portion of the neck includes an opening through whichat least a portion of the latch connector is accessible, the latchconnector being actuatable by the user through the opening to slide thelatch connector between the first and second positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat it further comprises a headstock detachable from a distal end ofthe neck.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the hinge comprises a yoke with a pair of arms and a knuckle thatextends between the arms of the yoke, the knuckle configured to rotaterelative to the arms when the neck is pivoted between the extended andthe folded positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat at least a portion of the ribbon cable passes through a slot in theknuckle.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat in the folded position at least a portion of the neck is disposedadjacent a rear surface of the body.

In accordance with another aspect, a guitar-shaped video game controlleris provided. The controller comprises a body having a shape thatresembles a guitar body and one or more control inputs and a neckpivotally attached to the body via a hinge, the neck configured to pivotbetween an extended position and a folded position relative to the body.The controller also comprises a latch assembly actuatable by a user tolock the neck in the extended position to the body, the latch assemblycomprising a latch connector configured to slide between a firstposition that allows the neck to pivot relative to the body and a secondposition in which the neck is locked in the extended position to thebody. The controller also comprises an electrical cable that extendsbetween and electrically connects the neck and the body, the electricalcable configured to extend through the hinge and to maintain anelectrical connection between the neck and the body when the neck is inthe extended and the folded positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the latch connector is disposed in a proximal portion of the neck.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat in the first position the latch connector is retracted and in thesecond position the latch connector extends past a proximal end of theneck.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the proximal portion of the neck includes an opening through whichat least a portion of the latch connector is accessible, the latchconnector being actuatable by the user through the opening to slide thelatch connector between the first and second positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the latch connector is a male connector that engages a femaleconnector in the body. Optionally, the female connector is a slot in thebody.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat it further comprises a headstock detachable from a distal end ofthe neck.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the hinge comprises a yoke with a pair of arms and a knuckle thatextends between the arms of the yoke, the knuckle configured to rotaterelative to the arms when the neck is pivoted between the extended andthe folded positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat at least a portion of the cable passes through a channel in theknuckle and an opening in one of the arms of the yoke.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the knuckle is defined by the neck and the yoke is defined by thebody.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat at least a portion of the cable passes through an opening in thelatch connector, such that sliding of the latch connector between theretracted and deployed positions does not contact said at least aportion of the cable that passes through the opening in the latchconnector.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the neck defines a conduit that extends through the opening in thelatch connector, the conduit having a passage through which the cablepasses, the conduit inhibiting contact between the latch connector andthe cable when sliding the latch connector between the retracted anddeployed positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat in the folded position at least a portion of the neck is disposedadjacent a rear surface of the body.

In accordance with another aspect, a guitar-shaped video game controlleris provided. The controller comprises a body having a shape thatresembles a guitar body and one or more control inputs and a neckpivotally attached to the body via a hinge, the neck configured to pivotbetween an extended position and a folded position relative to the body.The controller also comprises a latch assembly actuatable by a user tolock the neck in the extended position to the body, the latch assemblycomprising a latch connector in the neck that is configured to slidebetween a retracted position that allows the neck to pivot relative tothe body and a deployed position in which the latch connector extendspast a proximal end of the neck and engages a slot in the body tothereby lock the neck to the body. The neck also comprises an electricalcable that extends between and electrically connects the neck and thebody, the electrical cable extending through the hinge and configured tomaintain an electrical connection between the neck and the body when theneck is in the extended and the folded positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat a proximal portion of the neck includes an opening through which atleast a portion of the latch connector is accessible, the latchconnector being actuatable by the user through the opening to slide thelatch connector between the retracted and deployed positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat it further comprises a headstock detachable from a distal end ofthe neck.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the hinge comprises a yoke with a pair of arms and a knuckle thatextends between the arms of the yoke, the knuckle configured to rotaterelative to the arms when the neck is pivoted between the extended andthe folded positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat at least a portion of the cable passes through a channel in theknuckle and an opening in one of the arms of the yoke.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the knuckle is defined by the neck and the yoke is defined by thebody.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat at least a portion of the cable passes through an opening in thelatch connector, such that sliding of the latch connector between theretracted and deployed positions does not contact said at least aportion of the cable that passes through the opening in the latchconnector.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat the neck defines a conduit that extends through the opening in thelatch connector, the conduit having a passage through which the cablepasses, the conduit inhibiting contact between the latch connector andthe cable when sliding the latch connector between the retracted anddeployed positions.

The guitar-shaped video game controller may optionally be arranged suchthat in the folded position at least a portion of the neck is disposedadjacent a rear surface of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of one embodiment of a video gamecontroller in an extended position.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the video game controller of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the video game controller ofFIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 is a partial view of the video game controller of FIG. 1, with atop cover of the body and neck removed to show internal components.

FIGS. 5 is a view of a body of the video game controller of FIG. 1,excluding a top cover of the body and neck of the controller to showinternal components.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the video gamecontroller of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7A is partial cross-sectional view of the neck and body of thevideo game controller of FIG. 6 with the latch mechanism in theretracted position.

FIG. 7B is a partial cross-sectional view of the neck and body of thevideo game controller of FIG. 6 with the latch mechanism in the deployedposition.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the neck and body of thevideo game controller of FIG. 6 with the neck in the folded positionrelative to the body.

FIG. 9 is a partial view of the video game controller of FIG. 6 with abottom cover of the body and neck removed to show internal components.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the video game controller of FIG. 6with the neck in the folded position.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the video game controller of FIG. 6 with theneck in the folded position.

FIG. 12 is an end view of the video game controller of FIG. 6 with theneck in the folded position.

FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the video game controller ofFIG. 6 with the neck in the folded position.

FIG. 14 shows a partial view of a body of another embodiment of a videogame controller with a top cover removed to show internal components.

FIG. 15 shows a partial view of a neck of the video game controller ofFIG. 14 with a top cover of the neck removed to show internalcomponents.

FIG. 16 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the video gamecontroller of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 shows a partial view of the neck and body of the video gamecontroller of FIG. 14 with a bottom cover of the neck and body removedto show internal components.

FIG. 18A shows a partial cross-sectional view of the neck and body ofthe video game controller of FIG. 14, showing routing of a cable betweenthe body and the neck of the controller, with the latch mechanism in thedeployed position.

FIG. 18B shows a partial cross-sectional view of the neck and body ofthe video game controller of FIG. 14, showing routing of a cable betweenthe body and the neck of the controller, with the latch mechanism in theretracted position.

FIG. 19 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the neck and body of thevideo game controller of FIG. 14, showing routing of a cable between thebody and the neck of the controller, with the neck in the foldedposition relative to the body.

FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of a video game system thatincludes a video game controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-2 show one embodiment of a video game controller. In theillustrated embodiment, the video game controller is a guitar-shapedvideo game controller 1000 (“controller”). The controller 1000 has abody 100, a neck 200 and a headstock 300.

The body 100 has a shape resembling a body of the guitar, and includes afront surface or cabinet 10 and a rear surface or cabinet 20. The body100 also optionally includes a whammy bar 22, a strum bar 30, strap pegs50, 52, and input buttons 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the inputbuttons 40 include an options button 42, a share button 44, a D-pad 46and a guide button 47. In other embodiments, the input buttons 100 canbe more or fewer than those shown in FIG. 1.

The neck 200 has a shape that resembles a neck of a guitar, and extendsfrom a proximal portion 202 to a distal portion 204. The neck 200includes a fret board 205 with fretboard dots 240 and a plurality offret buttons 230. The headstock 300 has a shape that resembles aheadstock of a guitar. Therefore, a user playing a video game with thecontroller 1000 can pretend they are playing an actual guitar whileplaying the video game.

With reference to FIG. 2, the controller 1000 includes a hinge assembly400 that advantageously allows the neck 200 to pivot between an extendedposition (shown in FIGS. 1-2) and a folded position (shown, for example,in FIGS. 8, 10-13) relative to the body 100. For example, the neck 200can be in the folded position when packaged or for storage, allowing fora smaller package or storage space to be used, and can readily be movedto the extended position by the user when the user wants to use thecontroller 1000 to play a video game.

The hinge assembly 400 includes a yoke 410 that has a pair of arms 412,414 and a knuckle 416 that extends between and is pivotally coupled tothe arms 412,414 by a pin (417 in FIG. 7A-7B) or pair of bosses (417 ain FIG. 17) that extend between one or both of the arms 412, 414 and theknuckle 416, as discussed further below. In the illustrated embodiment,the yoke 410 is defined by the body 100 and the knuckle 416 is definedby the neck 200. In another embodiment, the yoke 410 is defined by theneck 200 and the knuckle 416 is defined by the body 100.

With reference to FIG. 2, the neck 200 has an opening 208 defined on arear surface 206 of the neck 200. Advantageously, a user can access alatch connector 520 of a latch assembly 500 (described further below)through the opening 208 to actuate (e.g., slide) the latch connector 520between a first position, such as a retracted position, and a secondposition, such as a deployed position, as discussed further below. Forexample, the user can contact a ridge 522 of the latch connector 520(e.g., with the user's finger(s)) to move the latch connector 520relative to the neck 200.

FIGS. 3-13 show one embodiment of the controller 1000. FIG. 4 shows thebody 100 with the front surface or cabinet 10 removed to illustratecomponents housed in the body 100, including one or more printed circuitboards (PCBs) 150 and a battery compartment 160 that is accessed via acover 170 (see FIG. 6).

In the illustrated embodiment, a ribbon cable 610 extends between thebody 100 and the neck 200. Advantageously, the ribbon cable 610 providesan electrical connection between the neck 200 and body 100 irrespectiveof the position of the neck 200 relative to the body 100 (e.g.,irrespective of whether the neck 200 is in the extended or foldedpositions), and therefore the ribbon cable 610 maintains an electricalconnection between the neck 200 and the body 100. The ribbon cable 610can provide an electrical connection between the fret buttons 230 andthe body 100 (e.g., between the fret buttons 230 and the PCBs 150). Asshown in FIG. 5, the neck 200 can have one or more fret button pads 235that underlie the fret buttons 230. The fret button pads 235 can bedisposed on one or more circuit boards 250, and the circuit board 250can be electrically connected with an end of the ribbon cable 610 via aPCB connector 215. Accordingly, the signal provided by the user whenpressing the fret buttons 230 can be communicated via the circuit board250 and ribbon cable 610 to the body 100 (e.g., to the PCBs 150 in thebody 100, which can then communicate the signals to the video game(e.g., via a wired or wireless connection).

As shown in FIGS. 7A-7B, the ribbon cable 610 extends into the neck 200through an opening 416 a in the knuckle 416 and extends into the body100 via an opening 140. An end 612 of the ribbon cable 610 connects to aPCB connector 614 in the body 100 (e.g., where the PCB connector 614 isconnected to the one or more PCBs 150).

A tension assembly 170 is disposed in the body 100 and advantageouslyapplies a tension force on the ribbon cable 610 to inhibit slack in theribbon cable 610 as the neck 200 is pivoted between the extended and thefolded positions, which advantageously inhibits (e.g., prevents) damageto the ribbon cable 610 during operation of the controller 1000. Thetension assembly 170 includes a first pin or roller 172 (e.g., distalpin) and a second pin or roller 174 (e.g., proximal pin), where theribbon cable 610 wraps around at least a portion of the first and secondpins 172, 174 (e.g., in a zig zag manner) between the opening 140 andthe connector 614. In the illustrated embodiment, the first pin 172 isfixed and the second pin 174 is part of a hook structure 176 that isattached by a spring 178 to a support member 179 to thereby spring loadthe second pin 174 and allow the second pin 174 to move axially along alongitudinal direction of the controller 1000. The spring 178 applies aforce on the second pin 174 that biases the second pin 174 toward thesupport 179, and thereby applies a tension force on the ribbon cable 610that wraps about the second pin 174, so that there is substantially noslack in the portion of the ribbon cable 610 that extends between theopening 140 in the body 100 and the opening 416 a in the knuckle.

As the neck 200 is moved to the folded position, the ribbon cable 610 ispulled out of the opening 140 by the rotation of the knuckle 416, butthe second pin 174 applies a tension force on the ribbon cable 610 (viathe tension force applied by the spring 178) to maintain the ribboncable 610 substantially taut between the second pin 174 and the PCBconnector 215. As shown in FIGS. 7A-8, the spring 178 is in an extendedposition when the neck 200 is in the folded position due to a largerlength of the ribbon cable 610 extending out of the body 100 through theopening 140. The farther the neck 200 is rotated toward the foldedposition, the greater the length of the ribbon cable 610 that extendsout of the body 100 and the greater the tension force applied on theribbon cable 610 by the spring 178 (via the second pin 174). In oneembodiment, the second pin 174 and hook structure 176 can be disposed ina channel so that they are substantially limited to move in only thefore-aft direction (e.g., to substantially inhibit movement of thesecond pin 174 and hook structure 176 in a lateral direction). Inanother embodiment, the tension assembly 170 can have only one pin aboutwhich the ribbon cable 610 is wrapped, where said pin is spring loadedand biased away from the opening 140 in the body 100.

With continued reference to FIGS. 7A-7B, a latch assembly 500 includesthe latch connector 520 and a connector 540 in the body 100. In theillustrated embodiment, the connector 540 is a slot 540 in the body 100.The slot 540 receives a distal portion 526 of the latch connector 520when it is slid in a direction X toward the body 100 such that itextends past a proximal end 202 a of the neck 200 to thereby lock theneck 200 in the extended position to the body 100. In one embodiment,the distal portion 526 of the latch connector 520 can engage a ridge orprotrusion in the slot 540 to lock the position of the latch connector520 in the slot 540 and inhibit inadvertent disengagement between thelatch connector 520 and the slot 540.

In the extended position, the proximal portion 202 of the neck 200extends into a recess 110 of the body 100 and a proximal surface 203(see e.g., FIG. 8) of the neck 200 is disposed adjacent a surface 112 ofthe recess 110. Additionally, a ridge 203 a of the proximal portion 202of the neck 200 extends into a groove 112 a in the surface 112 tofacilitate the coupling of the neck 200 to the body 100. In oneembodiment, the ridge 203 a and groove 112 a are press-fit when coupledtogether to inhibit movement of the neck 200 relative to the body 100prior to sliding the latch connector 520 to the deployed position. Inone embodiment, in the first or retracted position the distal portion526 of the latch connector 520 can be flush with the proximal end 202 aof the neck 200. In another embodiment, in the first or retractedposition the distal portion 526 of the latch connector 520 can bedisposed distal of the proximal end 202 a of the neck 200. As shown inFIG. 8, in one embodiment where the neck 200 is in the folded positionrelative to the body 100, the neck 200 can be adjacent (e.g., in contactwith) the bottom surface or cabinet 20 of the body 100. In anotherembodiment, the latch connector 520 can be disposed in the body 100 andslide out of the body 100 to engage a connector (e.g., slot) in aproximal end 202 a of the neck 200. In such an embodiment, the window208 can instead be defined in the body 100 to allow the user to accessthe latch connector to move the connector between the retracted anddeployed positions to lock the neck 200 to the body 100 or allow theneck 200 to pivot relative to the body 100.

FIGS. 10-13 show the controller 1000 with the neck 200 in the foldedposition relative to the body 100. In the folded position, thecontroller 1000 can have a width W of between about 200 mm and about 300mm, in some embodiments about 275 mm. In the folded position, thecontroller 1000 can have a length L of between about 400 mm and about500 mm, in some embodiments about 430 mm. In the folded position, thecontroller 1000 can have a thickness T of between about 50 mm and about100 mm, in some embodiments about 75 mm. The controller 1000 in thefolded position can be packaged or stored in a box or space having alength of between about 400-500 mm, in some embodiments about 450 mm, awidth of between about 200-300 mm, in some embodiments about 280 mm, anda thickness of between about 75 mm-150 mm, in some embodiments about 100mm.

As shown in FIGS. 10-13, in the folded position, the headstock 300 canbe removed from the distal end 204 of the neck 200 so that the distalconnector 204 a (e.g., one or more prongs) of the neck 200 is decoupledfrom the connector 302 (e.g., one or more slots) of the headstock 300.The neck 200 can be folded relative to the body 100 so that it isdisposed adjacent the bottom surface of cabinet 20 of the body 100.

FIGS. 14-19 show another embodiment of the controller 1000. Thecontroller 1000 illustrated in FIGS. 14-19 is similar to the controller100 shown in FIGS. 3-13, except as noted below. Thus, the referencenumerals used to designate the various components of the controller 1000in FIGS. 14-19 are identical to those used for identifying thecorresponding components of the controller 1000 in FIGS. 3-13.

In the illustrated embodiment, a cable 630 (e.g., electrical cable)extends between the neck 200 and the body 100. As shown in FIG. 15, thecable 630 can connect with the one or more circuit boards 250 on whichthe fret button pads 235 are disposed. In the illustrated embodiment,two circuit boards 250 for the fret button pads 235 are disposed in theneck 200, and electrically connected by the cable 630. The cable 630extends through the hinge assembly 400 and into the body 100 (e.g., sothat no portion of the cable 630 is exposed outside of the controller1000). The cable 630 extends from the proximal portion 202 of the neck200 into the knuckle 416, and passes through a channel 416 a in theknuckle 416 into one of the arms 414 of the yoke 410 through an openingin the arm 414 a, to thereby pass into the body 100 where the cable 630connects with one or more PCBs 150 in the body. Accordingly, the signalprovided by the user when pressing the fret buttons 230 that overlie thefret button pas 235 can be communicated via the circuit board(s) 250 andcable 630 to the body 100 (e.g., to the PCBs 150 in the body 100, whichcan then communicate the signals to the video game (e.g., via a wired orwireless connection).

With reference to FIGS. 17-19, the cable 630 passes from the proximalportion 202 of the neck 200 into the knuckle 416 via an opening 252 in aconduit 250, defined by walls 250 a, 250 b, that extends through anopening 524 in the latch connector 520. The conduit 250 advantageouslyprotects the cable 630 from damage by the latch connector 520 while thelatch connector 520 is moved between the retracted position (shown inFIG. 18B), where the neck 200 is unlatched from the body 100 so that theneck 200 is able to pivot relative to the body 100, and the deployedposition (shown in FIG. 18A) along direction X, where the neck 200 islatched to (or locked to) the body 100 with the neck 200 in the extendedposition. As the latch connector 520 is slid between the retracted anddeployed positions, the latch connector 520 can slide until a portion ofthe latch connector 520 contacts one of the walls 250 a, 250 b, whichprevents the latch connector 520 from contacting (and possibly damaging)the cable 630 that extends through the conduit 250. As discussed above,in one embodiment, the distal portion 526 of the latch connector 520 canengage a ridge or protrusion in the slot 540 to lock the position of thelatch connector 520 in the slot 540 and inhibit inadvertentdisengagement between the latch connector 520 and the slot 540.Advantageously, the cable 630 provides an electrical connection betweenthe neck 200 and body 100 irrespective of the position of the neck 200relative to the body 100 (e.g., irrespective of whether the neck 200 isin the extended position, as shown in FIGS. 18A18B, or in the foldedposition, as shown in FIG. 19), and therefore the cable 630 maintains anelectrical connection between the neck 200 and the body 100.Additionally, the cable 630 passes through the hinge assembly 400 suchthat the cable 630 is not twisted while the neck 200 is pivoted relativeto the body 100. Optionally, one or both of the knuckle 416 and arms412, 414 of the yoke 410 can have bearings through which the cable 630passes from the knuckle 416 into one of the arms 414 and into the body100.

FIG. 20 shows a block diagram of a video game system 2000 utilizing thevideo game controller 1000. The system 2000 includes a console 1800 thatcommunicates with the controller 1000 via a wired or wirelessconnection. The console 1800 can include a bus 1802, one or moreprocessors 1804, a main memory 1806, a read-only memory (ROM) 1808, astorage device 1810 and a communication interface 1818. The one or moreprocessors 1804 can execute video game instructions, for example in amemory 1806 or ROM 1808 that communicates with the one or moreprocessors 1804. The instructions can be stored in the storage device1810, and transferred to the memory 1806 and/or ROM 1808 as commanded bythe processor(s) 1804. The console 1800 can receive inputs from thecontroller 1000 (i.e., from the user pressing on the fret buttons 230 oroperating the whammy bar 22 or strum bar 30), and can communicate with adisplay 1830 via the communication interface 1818 to provide displaydata (e.g., images) to the display (e.g., computer monitor, television,etc.).

Although this disclosure describes certain embodiments and examples ofvideo game controllers, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that many aspects of the methods and devices shown and described inthe present disclosure may be differently combined and/or modified toform still further embodiments or acceptable examples. All suchmodifications and variations are intended to be included herein withinthe scope of this disclosure. Indeed, a wide variety of designs andapproaches are possible and are within the scope of this disclosure. Nofeature, structure, or step disclosed herein is essential orindispensible. Moreover, while illustrative embodiments have beendescribed herein, the scope of any and all embodiments having equivalentelements, modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspectsacross various embodiments), adaptations and/or alterations as would beappreciated by those in the art based on the present disclosure.

Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure inthe context of separate implementations can also be implemented incombination in a single implementation. Conversely, various featuresthat are described in the context of a single implementation can also beimplemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitablesubcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above asacting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimedcombination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and thecombination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or describedin the specification in a particular order, such operations need not beperformed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or thatall operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Otheroperations that are not depicted or described can be incorporated in theexample methods and processes. For example, one or more additionaloperations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or betweenany of the described operations. Further, the operations may berearranged or reordered in other implementations. Also, the separationof various system components in the implementations described aboveshould not be understood as requiring such separation in allimplementations, and it should be understood that the describedcomponents and systems can generally be integrated together in a singleproduct or packaged into multiple products.

For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novelfeatures are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages maybe achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, forexample, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure maybe embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or agroup of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving otheradvantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

Conditional language, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unlessspecifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within thecontext as used, is generally intended to convey that certainembodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certainfeatures, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is notgenerally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are inany way required for one or more embodiments.

Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,”unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with thecontext as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may beeither X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generallyintended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of atleast one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,”“about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent avalue, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, orcharacteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves adesired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”,“generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is withinless than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, withinless than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount. Asanother example, in certain embodiments, the terms “generally parallel”and “substantially parallel” refer to a value, amount, or characteristicthat departs from exactly parallel by less than or equal to 15 degrees,10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, 0.1 degree, or otherwise.

The language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on thelanguage employed in the claims and not limited to the examplesdescribed in the present specification or during the prosecution of theapplication, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.

Some embodiments have been described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings. However, the figures are not drawn to scale, unless indicatedotherwise. Distances, angles, etc. are merely illustrative and do notnecessarily bear an exact relationship to actual dimensions and layoutof the devices illustrated. Components can be added, removed, and/orrearranged. Further, the disclosure herein of any particular feature,aspect, method, property, characteristic, quality, attribute, element,or the like in connection with various embodiments can be used in allother embodiments set forth herein. Additionally, it will be recognizedthat any methods described herein may be practiced using any devicesuitable for performing the recited steps.

In summary, various illustrative embodiments and examples of video gamecontrollers have been disclosed. Although the video game controllershave been disclosed in the context of those embodiments and examples, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that this disclosureextends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to otheralternative embodiments and/or other uses of the embodiments, as well asto certain modifications and equivalents thereof. This disclosureexpressly contemplates that various features and aspects of thedisclosed embodiments can be combined with, or substituted for, oneanother. Accordingly, the scope of this disclosure should not be limitedby the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should bedetermined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow as well astheir full scope of equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A guitar-shaped video game controller,comprising: a body having a shape that resembles a guitar body and oneor more control inputs on a front surface of the body; a neck pivotallyattached to the body via a hinge, the neck configured to pivot betweenan extended position and a folded position relative to the body; and alatch assembly actuatable by a user to lock the neck in the extendedposition to the body, the latch assembly comprising a latch connectorconfigured to slide between a first position that allows the neck topivot relative to the body and a second position in which the neck islocked in the extended position to the body.
 2. The controller of claim1, wherein the latch connector is disposed in a proximal portion of theneck.
 3. The controller of claim 2, wherein in the first position thelatch connector is retracted and in the second position the latchconnector extends past a proximal end of the neck.
 4. The controller ofclaim 2, wherein the proximal portion of the neck includes an openingthrough which at least a portion of the latch connector is accessible,the latch connector being actuatable by the user through the opening toslide the latch connector between the first and second positions.
 5. Thecontroller of claim 2, wherein the latch connector is a male connectorthat engages a female connector in the body.
 6. The controller of claim5, wherein the female connector is a slot in the body.
 7. The controllerof claim 1, further comprising a headstock detachable from a distal endof the neck.
 8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises ayoke with a pair of arms and a knuckle that extends between the arms ofthe yoke, the knuckle configured to rotate relative to the arms when theneck is pivoted between the extended and the folded positions.
 9. Thecontroller of claim 8, wherein the knuckle is defined by the neck andthe yoke is defined by the body.
 10. The controller of claim 9, whereinin the extended position a proximal portion of the neck is at leastpartially disposed in a recess in the body.
 11. The controller of claim1, wherein in the folded position at least a portion of the neck isdisposed adjacent a rear surface of the body.
 12. A guitar-shaped videogame controller, comprising: a body having a shape that resembles aguitar body and one or more control inputs; a neck pivotally attached tothe body via a hinge, the neck configured to pivot between an extendedposition and a folded position relative to the body; and a latchassembly actuatable by a user to lock the neck in the extended positionto the body, the latch assembly comprising a latch connector in the neckthat is configured to slide between a retracted position that allows theneck to pivot relative to the body and a deployed position in which thelatch connector extends past a proximal end of the neck to lock the neckto the body.
 13. The controller of claim 12, wherein the proximalportion of the neck includes an opening through which at least a portionof the latch connector is accessible, the latch connector beingactuatable by the user through the opening to slide the latch connectorbetween the retracted and deployed positions.
 14. The controller ofclaim 12, wherein the latch connector is a male connector that engages afemale connector in the body.
 15. The controller of claim 14, whereinthe female connector is a slot in the body.
 16. The controller of claim12, further comprising a headstock detachable from a distal end of theneck.
 17. The controller of claim 12, wherein the hinge comprises a yokewith a pair of arms and a knuckle that extends between the arms of theyoke, the knuckle configured to rotate relative to the arms when theneck is pivoted between the extended and the folded positions.
 18. Thecontroller of claim 17, wherein the knuckle is defined by the neck andthe yoke is defined by the body.
 19. The controller of claim 18, whereinin the extended position a proximal portion of the neck is at leastpartially disposed in a recess in the body.
 20. The controller of claim12, wherein in the folded position at least a portion of the neck isdisposed adjacent a rear surface of the body.